Liberty in Times of War

Civil liberties are curtailed during wars. In the recent past during the 9/11 attack American and non-American citizens' civil liberties were infringed. Civil liberties are eroded whenever emergency power is exercised. During war government authorities tend to withhold information. Documents are over-classified and information withheld from the Congress and the general public (Fisher, 2003). After the 9/11 attack President Bush released a memo that limit the disclosure of classified and sensitive law enforcement information. This decision was later reversed on October 5, 2001 (Fisher, 2003). Law enforcement information was later restricted to 8 members of the Congress namely: House Speaker, House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders and the chairs and ranking members of the Intelligence Committees. When Bush Administration was about to go into Iraq, Bush declassified satellite photos and released them to the press (Fisher, 2003). The position that the Bush...
[ View Full Essay]